Terence Crawford has named Shakur Stevenson as the current fighter capable of retiring undefeated as a generational great. Following his own retirement after defeating Canelo Alvarez, the former three-division undisputed champion believes Stevenson possesses the mental and physical attributes required to dominate boxing.
Crawford spent over a decade as an elite pound-for-pound operator before concluding his career with a legacy-defining unanimous decision win over Alvarez. That victory, alongside his dominant performance against Errol Spence Jr in 2023, cemented his status at the top of the sport. Now retired, Crawford believes four-division world champion Stevenson can achieve a similar degree of success and follow in his footsteps.
The 29-year-old Stevenson secured a career-best win in January, losing just one round on his way to dethroning Teofimo Lopez via unanimous decision to capture the WBO super-lightweight title. Having recently signed a promotional agreement with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, it remains to be seen whether the American defends his WBO title at super-lightweight or pursues alternative opportunities elsewhere.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Crawford explained why he believes the slick southpaw has the elite attributes to remain unbeaten at the highest level:
“I think Shakur [will take over], for sure, Shakur hands down. I think, given the opportunity, he’s going to show the world that he’s the best. His mental, his defense [sets him apart], takes his craft serious. He’s the type of the fighter that you gotta pull out the gym. [Is he beatable?] Not at all. Everybody [is] beatable, but I don’t see nobody beating him.”
For Crawford, Stevenson’s defensive mastery and dedication in the gym set him apart from the rest of the sport. Few fighters command that level of praise from a newly retired pound-for-pound king.
Since signing with Zuffa Boxing, Stevenson has highlighted Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis as two potential opponents who could cement his greatness. Depending on which weight class offers the most realistic opportunities, Stevenson could compete anywhere between lightweight and 147lbs as he aims to build on his standing.
